Lachenalia jacq. f. ex murray named &#34;Josephine&#34;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct form of  Lachenalia  plant characterized by a bulb plant type having a spreading growth habit of a height of 15-30 centimetres (cm) and width of 10-15 cm; a hyacinth-like yellow flower with maroon tip which displays very compact inflorescence; and further having a lanceolate leaf form.

Genus and species: Lachenalia Jacq. f. ex Murray.

Variety denomination: Josephine.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Lachenalia, botanically known as Lachenalia Jacq. f. ex Murray having the common name of Viooltjies/Cape cowslip and hereinafter referred to by its variety denomination “Josephine”.

The variety was first cultivated in 2008 and originated by means of conventional breeding by the inventor during 2009 to 2010 at the premises of Agricultural Research Council Vegetable and Ornamental Plant Institute, Roodeplaat, Pretoria, Republic of South Africa.

Asexual reproduction of the Josephine plant has shown that the unique features thereof are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention constitutes a new and distinct variety of Lachenalia which originated from the controlled pollination between a Lachenalia hybrid as seed bearing parent and a Lachenalia hybrid as pollen parent as detailed hereinbelow.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics, under the local evaluation conditions, of the Josephine plant. These characteristics in combination distinguish Josephine as a new and distinct Lachenalia cultivar:

-   -   1. Bulb plant type having a spreading growth habit of a height         of 15-30 centimetres (cm) and width of 10-15cm.     -   2. Flower color: yellow with maroon tip.     -   3. Leaf form: Lanceolate.     -   4. Flower form: Hyacinth like. Infloresence very compact.

Plants of the new Lachenalia variety Josephine can be compared to similar denominations such as Romaud and Namakwa but differs in that the flower color and leaf form of Romaud is greenish yellow and oval respectively; and that the flower form of Namakwa is tubular with the inflorescence of the Namakwa not being compact.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the Josephine, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. The photographs comprise front perspective views of a typical Josephine grown in an indoor nursery.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs, following observations and measurements describe Josephine grown by the inventor on behalf of Agricultural Research Council Vegetable and Ornamental Plant Institute, Roodeplaat, Pretoria, Republic of South Africa. Thereafter Josephine was made subject of a South African Plant Breeders' Right application in March 2009. This application was granted in 2010 under number ZA20104394.

The plant may be used for landscaping and should be planted during the month of March; indoors and in pots only. The plant should be kept at temperatures of 20-25 degrees Celsius during the day and 10-15 degrees Celsius at night. Plenty of light should be provided.

Josephine is a naturally short hyacinth-like cultivar. It is early to intermediate flowering and has an excellent keeping quality.

Josephine is a hybrid-hybrid cross containing the following Lachenalia species: Lachenalia orchioides subsp. glaucina, Lachenalia bulbifera, Lachenalia quadricolor, Lachenalia aloides.

The specific Josephine parentage is as follows:

-   Female parent has the following crossing history: ([L. aloides×L.     rubida]×[L. aloides×L. rubida])×(L. aloides×L. aloides) -   Male parent has the following crossing history: ([L. orchioides×L.     abides]×[L. orchioides×L. aloides]). -   Leaf: Monocolored. Spots on upper side — Present. -   Flower:     -   -   Predominant color.—Yellow.         -   Intensity of predominant color.—Strong.         -   Inner perianth segment.—Color of margin of apex relative to             other part. Clearly different.         -   Inflorescence.—Number of flowers. Many/Compact.         -   Attitude.—Horizontal to pendulous.         -   Flower length.—1.9 cm.         -   Pedicel.—Present: length medium.         -   Flower diameter excluding apex.—Small to medium: 0.6 cm.         -   Flower diameter at apex.—Medium: 1.3 cm.         -   Flower attitude of distal part of inner perianth             segments.—Spreading.         -   Flower glossiness.—Absent.         -   Outer perianth segment.—Color of basal part just before             opening of flower: Yellow (RHS # 9C).         -   Outer perianth segment.—Color of basal part of fully opened             flower: Yellow (RHS # 13A).         -   Outer perianth segment.—Color of apex relative to other             part: Clearly different (yellow-green).         -   Inner perianth segment.—Distinct spot in middle of apex:             Absent.         -   Inner perianth segment.—Color of margin of apex relative to             other part: Clearly different (pale-purple).         -   Inner perianth segment.—Predominant color of exposed part             (excluding differently colored margin of apex). Yellow (RHS             # 9A). The variety is not genetically modified and has been             tested to be free of Ornithogalum Mosaic Virus. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Lachenalia named Josephine as illustrated and described herein. 